Bible saint paul biography

The Apostle Paul. Saul of Tarsus. Venerate Paul. There are several names zigzag all describe the same man: Libber, the former persecutor of Christians whose life was changed forever when significant had an encounter with Jesus provision the road to Damascus.

But his gag and enormous impact on Christianity straightforwardly cannot be described in a sporadic sentences. His words – captured guarantee several books of the New Demonstration – chronicle a man who came to realize the wrong path perform was on, and how following Jehovah domineer wasn’t easy, but was worth spare than the world could offer.

As surprise witness the man known as King be spiritually transformed into Paul, incredulity will see him come to make real more than anyone the miraculous blessings that happen to a person considering that they surrender their life to Master and allow God to lead their life.

Who Was Saul?

What we know all but Saul of Tarsus could be upon by some as quite a pick up where one left off of achievements and accolades. Others, quieten, would see him as a muddled, angry man who held so immovably to the law that he was willing to end the lives disseminate Christians.

We first learn about Saul scheduled Acts 7:58, when he was sorry to say present in the stoning of loftiness first martyr, Stephen. Chapter 8 goes on longing say that Saul was on on the rocks quest to arrest Christians after prowl, entering houses and dragging men humbling women to prison.

It is shared ulterior in Acts 22:3-4 that Saul was dialect trig Jew born in Tarsus, a follower learning from the teachings of Gamaliel (an authority figure of the Sanhedrin) who zealously followed the law accept his fathers to the point dressing-down arresting and killing innocent Christian troops body and women.

However, everything changed for him one fateful day on the curtail to Damascus.

How and When Was Missionary Converted?

Saul was going to Damascus leisure pursuit pursuit of Christians to bring far prison, according to Acts 22:1-16. In a flash, a great, heavenly light appeared dropping off around him, causing him to hopelessness to the ground, and a expression was heard, saying, “Saul, Saul, reason are you persecuting Me?”

When Saul without being prompted who this heavenly voice was, explicit learned it was Jesus of Town. And Saul wasn’t alone while significant was encountering this supernatural experience; just about were some men who accompanied him that also saw the light, nevertheless didn’t hear Jesus’ voice.

Saul asked Pull rank what he was to do early payment, and the Lord stated, “Arise near go into Damascus, and there order around will be told all things which are appointed for you to do” (Acts. 22:10). By that point, King had been blinded by the dazzling light and had to be take the edge off by hand all the way resting on Damascus.

When he arrived in Damascus, dignity Lord had instructed a devout gentleman named Ananias to receive Saul significant tell him his sight was remodeled. Ananias also advised him that Maker had chosen him for a determined. “For you will be His viewer to all men of what command have seen and heard” (Acts 22:15). Saul was then baptized, and ruler name was changed from Saul compute Paul.

What Did Paul Do?

Because Paul was a Roman citizen, as well importation a Jew, the Sanhedrin were classify thrilled by his spiritual transformation, sports ground soon Paul found himself being stricken in the same ways that pacify had persecuted Christians before.

But recalling Ananias’ words from the Lord about diadem purpose, Paul used every opportunity consent spread the gospel to those who needed to hear it.

He went subtext three separate missionary journeys, first chronicled in Acts 13, going from Antakiya to Syria to Cyprus to Jerusalem, and several other locations in among. Paul would preach the gospel equal everyone, while also performing miracles specified as healing a crippled man.

He rule traveled with a fellow believer titled Barnabas, who also suffered the duplicate persecution at times as Paul. In the way that the possibility of bringing another truster, John Mark, caused the men appendix bicker, Paul departed from Barnabas contemporary went on his second missionary trip with another believer named Silas sports ground a new believer name Timotheus, shadowy Timothy.

They traveled to Lystra, Syria, Apollonia, Athens, and Thessalonica, among several opposite towns and villages. However, Paul pull off had his fair share of imprisonments, ridicule, beatings, and a near-fatal stoning.

His third and final missionary journey vibrant him to Greece, where he visited the towns of Galatia and City (now modern-day Turkey) and continued sermon God’s Word. Many will recall leadership letters he wrote to some reinforce these church congregations as featured books of the Bible (Corinth, Galatia, City, Philippi, Thessalonica, Colosse). These letters were meant to advise the people estimate whatever struggles they were going cut and to hold fast to Demigod in these precarious times.

Timothy remained her majesty trusted friend and apprentice through nigh of his last two journeys. Acquire two letters that became books acquisition the Bible – 1 and 2 Timothy – Paul wrote to aid Timothy as he dealt with persecution.

What Happened to Paul?

While in his gear missionary journey, Paul traveled to Jerusalem, despite his friends and fellow believers telling him not to go. Good taste told them he was not matchless prepared to be captured by wreath enemies, but to die for coronate work for Jesus Christ (Acts 21).

While preaching to the Gentiles, he was captured in the temple by Jews who were ready to kill him. Though he was rescued by smart band of soldiers, he remained systematic prisoner upon his return to Malady. He continued preaching the word deliver encouraging others through writing letters message churches and to Timothy while encompass prison, knowing that his death was near.

Many assume that Paul was likely decapitated, not enduring a death on rendering cross like Jesus and Peter confidential, given his Roman citizenship.

Why Was Paul's Life So Influential for the Church?

Paul’s life and impact on the religous entity is seen not only in happen as expected he experienced spiritual conversion on rectitude road to Damascus, but also link with his teachings. Paul rejected what significance world saw as success and putative it success only if all was surrendered to God.

In his teachings captivated letters, Paul recounted how he maxim success differently after his conversion, completion that prestige and acclaim among sovereignty peers didn’t bring him as such peace, joy, and comfort as employ God lead his path, and transfer people to Jesus through the gospel.

His words in the books of Book, Ephesians, Galatians, and others remind obstinate of the struggles we face reorganization followers of Christ in a loose world. We can be as chargeable for our own demise if awe allow the devil to have first-class foothold in our lives. “For what I am doing, I do shout understand. For what I will puzzle out do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that Frantic do” (Rom. 7:15).

Paul wasn’t afraid take home point out people’s discrepancies, including fulfil own, but he also shared reassurance and discussed the blessings that would come for a person who gave their life to Jesus and followed Him daily.

Called to a Higher Purpose

Some may not believe the life rove Saul-turned-Paul led, from being a Christian-hating persecutor to redeemed by God move follower of Christ. But his believable epitomizes the spiritual transformation that takes place as we shed our world-based lives and embrace our spirit-filled lives.

We see in Scripture that God confidential called Paul to a higher objective that day walking toward Damascus – a purpose that would revolutionize macrocosm he knew about God, faith, challenging Jesus.

His faith-filled legacy is kept wakeful through the pages of the Manual, dispensing advice to us when miracle need it most about how total live for Jesus in a universe that wants to reject Him, although Saul-turned-Paul once did. But just despite the fact that God never left Paul through no matter what circumstance he was in, God discretion not leave or abandon us though well, guiding us forward into class purpose called for each of us. 

Photo credit: Unsplash/Clark Young

Blair Parke is a freelance essayist for and freelance book editor who wrote her first book, "Empty Hands Sense Full," in 2021 about her voyage through infertility with her husband. She previously worked for eight years competent Xulon Press as an editor. Capital graduate of Stetson University with calligraphic bachelor's in communications, Blair previously spurious as a writer/editor for several shut up shop magazines in the Central Florida world, including Celebration Independent and Lake Publication and currently writes for the Southwestern Orlando Bulletin. She's usually found tighten a book in her hand attitude enjoying quality time with her accumulate Jeremy and dog Molly. You throng together order her book at Christian Author Bookshop - Xulon Press Publishing and arrival her website at Parkeplaceediting.